A viral video has captured the attention of millions, as a woman shares her surprising experience of sitting in a front-row seat on an airplane, only to find herself facing backward towards the entire cabin. The video, posted on TikTok by Jess Smith (@jesssmith_36), has garnered over 15 million views, sparking a discussion on the unconventional seating arrangement.

Smith's discomfort is evident in the video as she looks out into the crowd, accompanied by the caption, "When you book row 1 as a treat, it turns into you facing the entire plane" and the remark, "Never going to recover." Little did she know that this type of seating arrangement is not as uncommon as she initially thought.

According to Zach Griff, senior aviation writer for The Point Guys travel blog, some popular airlines, including American and United in the United States, offer rear-facing seats for their business class passengers. These seats are typically found on a subset of the wide-body fleet. Internationally, carriers such as Qatar Airways and British Airways also provide rear-facing seats in their business class cabins. Travelers can find out if their seat is rear-facing by checking the seat map during the booking process.

It was revealed that United Airlines currently offers optional rear-facing business-class seats on 23 of its 945 aircraft. Customers purchasing tickets from United can review the seat map to identify forward or backward-facing seats.

However, the airline that Smith flew with was not disclosed in her video. Griff speculated that Smith's experience was likely from a smaller international airline that offered rear-facing seats in the economy class. These seats are less common and are often not denoted in the seat map. Savvy travelers are advised to inquire with their airline regarding the seating arrangement before their flight.

While rear-facing seats are popular for long-haul international flights due to the comfortable sleeping position they offer, Smith's video depicted a less luxurious cabin. The positioning of a rear-facing seat allows passengers to sleep with their heads slightly higher than their legs, which is said to be more comfortable during cruising. Aviation enthusiasts also enjoy rear-facing seats for the unique views of the wing and engine they provide.

The response to Smith's video was a mix of sympathy and amusement. Many social media users empathized with her discomfort, expressing their own anxiety or willingness to switch seats. Others humorously suggested ways to cope with the situation, such as staring at fellow passengers or giving impromptu speeches.

Rear-facing seats are undoubtedly an awkward experience in the economy cabin, as confirmed by Griff. He recommends bringing an eye mask and entertainment options to distract from the unusual seating arrangement.

Fox News Digital reached out to Smith, American Airlines, and British Airways for further comments on the matter.